Toilet bed cage support apparatus

ABSTRACT

The cage support apparatus and method is provided for use by people bedridden or with wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device comprising an upper support, a base support and a plurality of vertical supports. The upper support comprises a lengthened side support, a rear support, and a side support. The base support comprises a lengthened side support, a rear support, and a side support, and a plurality of vertical supports. The plurality of vertical supports comprises a first end vertical support, a second end vertical support, a first corner support, a second corner support, and an intermediate vertical support. The upper support and the base support are fixedly connected by the plurality of vertical supports, and particularly, the lengthened side support is held by the first end support, the first corner support and an intermediate vertical support, the rear support is held by the first corner support, the second corner support and the intermediate vertical support. The side support is held by the second corner support and the second end vertical support. The first end support, the first corner support and an intermediate vertical support are buttressed by the lengthened side base member, the first corner support, the second corner support and the intermediate vertical support are buttressed by the rear base member, and the second corner support and the second end vertical support are buttressed by the side base member. The cage support apparatus may further comprise a toilet placed so as to be bounded by the upper support and base support. The cage support apparatus may further comprise a first cross brace secured between the vertical supports and parallel to the lengthened side support and the side support. The cage support apparatus also comprises a second cross brace secured between the vertical supports and parallel to the rear support.

PRIORITY AND CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part application and claims thebenefit and priority of Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11/973,454,filed Oct. 9, 2007, entitled “Toilet Bed Cage Support Apparatus,” whichis incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a toilet or potty bed cagesupport apparatus for use by people with wheel chairs, scooters, powerchairs or any similar mobile device. Specifically, the present inventionrelates to a toilet or potty bed cage support apparatus that can beattached to a wall, bed or both and will receive a person from themobile device for using a toilet and returning to the mobile device, oralternately, can be used-by a person in bed that can get to the toiletand return to bed via the potty bed cage support apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People restricted to bed, disabled or required to be in wheel chairs,scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device are confronted withgetting to a toilet or potty. Access for the bed ridden or disabled isdifficult, if not impossible. A person in bed must get out of bed andwalk to the bathroom, which may not be possible. A person in a mobiledevice must get the mobile device to the toilet, secure herself withrespect to the toilet, then lift herself from the mobile device to thetoilet, which is very difficult.

Of primary concern in the present invention is to provide mobility andeasy access to a toilet by a disabled person from either a bed or amobile device.

It is, therefore, a feature of the present invention to provide a cagesupport apparatus that in normal use provides an apparatus to assist aperson from a bed to a toilet and then from the toilet back to the bed.

A feature of the present invention is to provide a cage supportapparatus that can be affixed to a bed for easy access from the bed andeasy access back to the bed.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage supportapparatus that can be affixed to a wall for easy access from a bed andeasy access back to the bed.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage supportapparatus that can be affixed to a bed for easy access from a mobiledevice and easy access back to the mobile device.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage supportapparatus that can be affixed to a wall for easy access from a mobiledevice and easy access back to the mobile device.

Yet another feature of the invention is to provide a cage supportapparatus that can fit through doors.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a cagesupport apparatus that can irremovably affixed to a bed without anymodification to the bed.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a cage supportapparatus that can be used with any toilet or potty seat.

Yet another feature of the present invention is to provide a cagesupport apparatus that can be made of wood, aluminum, stainless steel orany other appropriate material.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a cagesupport apparatus that can be covered with rubber, vinyl or anyappropriate non-slip material.

Yet still another feature of the present invention is to provide a cagesupport apparatus that can be mounted to internal wall studs through thewallboard.

Yet further, an additional feature of the present invention is toprovide a cage support apparatus with legs that can fold and snap intorecesses using spring slugs.

Yet further, another feature of the present invention is to provide acage support apparatus with a base plate that can be made of various asundry materials such as for example wood, plastic or metal.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inpart in the description which follows, and in part will become apparentfrom the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.The features and advantages of the invention may be realized by means ofthe combinations and steps particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To achieve the foregoing objects, features, and advantages and inaccordance with the purpose of the invention as embodied and broadlydescribed herein, a cage support apparatus is provided.

The cage support apparatus is provided for use by people bedridden orwith wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile devicecomprising an upper support, a base support and a plurality of verticalsupports. The upper support comprises a lengthened side support, a rearsupport, and a side support. The base support comprises a lengthenedside support, a rear support, and a side support, and a plurality ofvertical supports. The plurality of vertical supports comprises a firstend vertical support, a second end vertical support, a first cornersupport, a second corner support, and an intermediate vertical support.The upper support and the base support are fixedly connected by theplurality of vertical supports, and particularly, the lengthened sidesupport is held by the first end support, the first corner support andan intermediate vertical support, the rear support is held by the firstcorner support, the second corner support and the intermediate verticalsupport. The side support is held by the second corner support and thesecond end vertical support. The first end support, the first cornersupport and an intermediate vertical support are buttressed by thelengthened side base member, the first corner support, the second cornersupport and the intermediate vertical support are buttressed by the rearbase member, and the second corner support and the second end verticalsupport are buttressed by the side base member.

The cage support apparatus may further comprise a toilet placed so as tobe bounded by the upper support and base support. The cage supportapparatus may further comprise a first cross brace secured between thevertical supports and parallel to the lengthened side support and theside support. The cage support apparatus also comprises a second crossbrace secured between the vertical supports and parallel to the rearsupport.

A displaceable cage support apparatus is provided for use by peoplebedridden or with wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similarmobile device comprising an upper support, at least one vertical supportand a securing member. The upper support comprises a rear portion, afirst and second side portions, a first and second arcuate portions, anda first and second vertical receptor. The vertical support comprises anelongate member and a pivot mechanism. The upper support and thevertical support are pivotly connected by engaging the pivot member ofthe vertical support with the vertical receptor of the upper support,and the upper support is rotatably secured to a wall by the securingmember such that when a toilet is bounded by the upper support thedisplaceable cage support apparatus can be lifted to rotate about thesecuring mechanism to lift out of the way of a person to providecomplete access to the toilet, and when the person accesses the toilet,the displaceable cage support apparatus can be lowered about the personon the toilet so as to stabilize the person on the toilet and providesupport therefore. The displaceable cage support apparatus furthercomprises a toilet placed in so as to be bounded by the upper support.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention and together with the general description of the inventiongiven above and the detailed description of the preferred embodimentgiven below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cagesupport apparatus encompassed by the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevation, front view the preferred embodiment of the cagesupport apparatus encompassed by the present invention as illustrated inFIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevation, side view the preferred embodiment of the cagesupport apparatus encompassed by the present invention as illustrated inFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the cagesupport apparatus encompassed by the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the another preferred embodiment of thecage support apparatus encompassed by the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 4 with the upper support member in a raisedposition.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the cage supportapparatus including a bed

The above general description and the following detailed description aremerely illustrative of the generic invention, and additional modes,advantages, and particulars of this invention will be readily suggestedto those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferredembodiments of the invention as described in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cagesupport apparatus 100 encompassed by the present invention. The cagesupport apparatus 100 comprises an upper support 110, a base support 120and a plurality of vertical supports 130, 132, 134, 136, 138. The uppersupport 110 comprises a lengthened side support 112, a rear support 114and a side support 116. The base support 120 comprises a lengthened sidesupport 122, a rear support 124 and a side support 126. The plurality ofvertical supports comprise a first end vertical support 130, a secondend vertical support 132, intermediate vertical supports 134A, 134B,first corner support 136 and second corner support 138. Optionally, thecage support apparatus 100 comprises a first cross brace 140 and asecond cross brace 150. The first cross brace 140 is parallel to theside supports 112, 116 and the base supports 122, 126. The second crossbrace 150 is parallel to the rear support 114 and the rear base member124. A toilet 10 can be placed central to the cage support apparatus 100for easy access by a person in a wheel chair, scooter, power chair orany similar mobile device, or alternately, by a person from a bed.Further, a base plate may be secured to the base support for supportingand stabilizing the wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similarmobile device. Also, a base plate 160 is engaged with the base support120 including the lengthened side support 122, the rear support 124 andthe side support 126. The base plate 160 provides that the apparatus 100is a unitary structure having rigidity, and also provides additionalease of use. The base plate 160 provides for level footing during theuse of the cage support apparatus 100.

FIG. 2 is an elevation, front view the preferred embodiment of the cagesupport apparatus 100 encompassed by the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 1. The cage support apparatus 100 has the lengthenedside support 122, the rear support 124 and the side support 126 alongthe upper portion. The first end vertical support 130, the second endvertical support 132 and the intermediate vertical supports 134B areshown supporting the lengthened side support 122, the rear support 124and the side support 126. The rear base member 124 is illustrated belowthe first end vertical support 130, the second end vertical support 132and the intermediate vertical supports 134B.

FIG. 3 is an elevation, side view the preferred embodiment of the cagesupport apparatus 100 encompassed by the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 1. The first end vertical support 130, the secondend vertical support 132 and the second corner support 134B are shownsupporting the side support 116 and the lengthened side support 112. Thefirst cross brace is perpendicular to the first end vertical support130. The base support 120 is carries the first end vertical support 130,the second end vertical support 132 and the second corner support 134B.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of thedisplaceable cage support apparatus 200 encompassed by the presentinvention. The displaceable cage support apparatus 200 comprises anupper support 210, a first vertical support 222 and a second verticalsupport 224. The upper support 210 comprises a rear portion 212 with afirst side portion 214A and a second side portion 214B at an angledrelationship. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the angledrelationship is 90°.

Further, the upper support 210 comprises a first arcuate portion 216Aand a second arcuate portion 216B attached to the first side portion214A and the second side portion 214B, respectively. The first arcuateportion 216A and the second arcuate portion 216B are attached to a firstreceptor 218A and a second receptor 218B, respectively. The receptors218A, 218B are provided for accepting the first vertical support 222 andthe second vertical support 224 in a pivoting relationship. The uppersupport 210 and the first and second vertical support 222, 224 arerotatably affixed to a wall 12. The upper support 210 and the first andsecond vertical support 222, 224 are rotatably affixed to a wall 12 by asecuring member 232 and a fastener 236. Thus, when the rear portion 212rotates about an axis along its central axis, the displaceable cagesupport apparatus 200 can be rotated upward toward the wall 12. A toilet10 can be placed central to the displaceable cage support apparatus 200for easy access by a person in a wheel chair, scooter, power chair orany similar mobile device.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the another preferred embodiment of thecage support apparatus 200 encompassed by the present invention asillustrated in FIG. 4 with the upper support member 210 in a raisedposition. The displaceable cage support apparatus 200 comprises theupper support 210, the first vertical support 222 and the secondvertical support 224. The upper support 210 comprises the rear portion212 with the first side portion 214A and the second side portion 214B atan angled relationship. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, theangled relationship is 90°. Further, the upper support 210 comprises thefirst arcuate portion 216A and the second arcuate portion 216B attachedto the first side portion 214A and the second side portion 214B,respectively. The first arcuate portion 216A and the second arcuateportion 216B are attached to the first receptor 218A and the secondreceptor 218B, respectively. The receptors 218A, 218B are provided foraccepting the first vertical support 222 and the second vertical support224 in a pivoting relationship. The upper support 210 and the first andsecond vertical support 222, 224 are rotatably affixed to a wall 12. Theupper support 210 and the first and second vertical support 222, 224 arerotatably affixed to a wall 12 by a securing member 232 and a fastener236. Thus, when the rear portion 212 rotates about an axis along itscentral axis, the displaceable cage support apparatus 200 is illustratedrotated upward to be adjacent to the wall 12. A toilet 10 can be placedcentral to the displaceable cage support apparatus 200 for easy accessby a person in a wheel chair, scooter, power chair or any similar mobiledevice. Also, shown are brackets 232, 234, and alignment members 242,244.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the cagesupport apparatus 300 encompassed by the present invention. The cagesupport apparatus 300 comprises an upper support 310, a base support 320and a plurality of vertical supports 330, 332, 334, 336, 338. The uppersupport 310 comprises a lengthened side support 312, a rear support 114and a side support 316. The base support 320 comprises a lengthened sidesupport 322, a rear support 324 and a side support 326. The plurality ofvertical supports comprise a first end vertical support 330, a secondend vertical support 332, intermediate vertical supports 334A, 334B,first corner support 336 and second corner support 338. Optionally, thecage support apparatus 300 comprises a first cross brace 340 and asecond cross brace 350. The first cross brace 340 is parallel to theside supports 312, 316 and the base supports 322, 326. The second crossbrace 350 is parallel to the rear support 314 and the rear base member324. A toilet 10 can be placed central to the cage support apparatus 300for easy access by a person in a wheel chair, scooter, power chair orany similar mobile device, or alternately, by a person from a bed.Further, a base plate may be secured to the base support for supportingand stabilizing the wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similarmobile device.

Also, a base plate 360 is engaged with the base support 320 includingthe lengthened side support 322, the rear support 324 and the sidesupport 326. The base plate 360 provides that the apparatus 300 is aunitary structure having rigidity, and also provides additional ease ofuse. The base plate 360 provides for level footing during the use of thecage support apparatus 300. The unitary structure provided by the cagesupport apparatus 100, 300 results in enhanced effectiveness that is notpossible by other known devices. It is critical to have a securestructure to avoid fall and slips by a person using the cage supportapparatus 100, 300 of the present disclosure.

Further, FIG. 6 illustrates the use the cage support apparatus 300 inassociation with a bed 20. The cage support apparatus 300 and the bed 20can be rigidly affixed on to the other using an L-bracket 376. However,it can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the cage supportapparatus 300 and the bed 20 can be removably affixed one to the otherusing any disengagement-engagement device or method, such as by way ofexemple, a latch, cam lock, crossbar, compression latch or the like.

FIG. 6 also illustrates the use of a privacy curtain 370. The privacycurtain 370 may include a plurality of supports 372A, 272B, 372C forextending a curtain 376 a full length, or may extend a curtain 378 at anintermediate length. The curtain 376, 378 can be hung from a securingmember 374. The plurality of supports 372A, 272B, 372C for extending thecurtain 376, 378 may also be telescoping to adapt to any length ofcurtain 376, 378 for any height of person using the cage supportapparatus 300.

Still further, the cage support apparatus 300 of the present disclosuremay include a radio 392 attached to the support rail 310. Also, a toiletpaper holder 396 may be adapted for use with the cage support apparatus300 of the present disclosure.

Yet still further, the cage support apparatus 300 may be equipped with awireless intercom 394 or combination intercom-motion sensor 394. Thus,when a person is using the cage support apparatus 300 s/he can beremotely monitored for enhanced safety and efficiency.

And still further, the cage support apparatus 300 of the presentdisclosure can be adapted with an intravenous (IV) stand 380 that can besecured to the cage support apparatus 300, such as by way of example byclamp 384. An IV bag or other equipment can be held by the holder 382.

Further, the present disclosure provides for a method of using a cagesupport apparatus 100, 300 of the present disclosure. The method ofusing the cage support apparatus 100, 300 of the present disclosurecomprises the following steps. Affixing a cage support apparatus 100,300 to a bed such that an entrance to the cage support apparatus 100,300 is orthogonal to a side of the bed. If the cage support apparatus100, 300 is along the end of the bed, then an elongated side of the cagesupport apparatus 100, 300 is adjacent to the bed. If the cage supportapparatus 100, 300 is along the side of the bed, then a shortened sideof the cage support apparatus 100, 300 is adjacent to the bed. Thus, theperson exiting from the side of the bed can directly enter the cagesupport apparatus 100, 300 with an elongated side in front and thetoilet to a side. Alternately, the method would include a person exitingthe bed on a side, rotating around a corner of the bed and into the thecage support apparatus 100, 300.

Still further, a method includes exiting the bed for a wheel chair,engaging the wheel chair to have an elongated handle of the cage supportapparatus 100, 300 overlapping an arm of the wheelchair for providingenhanced stability, and rotating from the wheel chair into the cagesupport apparatus 100, 300 with a short support providing for greaterentrance space.

Additional advantages and modification will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is thereforenot limited to the specific details, representative apparatus, and theillustrative examples shown and described herein. Accordingly, thedepartures may be made from the details without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosed general inventive concept.

1. A cage support apparatus is provided for use by people bedridden orwith wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile devicecomprising: (a) an upper support, the upper support comprises: (1) alengthened side support, (2) a rear support, and (3) a side support, (b)a base support, the base support comprises: (1) a lengthened sidesupport, (2) a rear support, and (3) a side support, and (c) a pluralityof vertical supports, plurality of vertical supports comprises: (1) afirst end vertical support, (2) a second end vertical support, (3) afirst corner support, (4) a second corner support, and (5) anintermediate vertical support, (d) a base member for engaging the basesupport and for fixing the relationship of the vertical supports and theupper supports for providing a unitary structure that is sufficientlyrigid to prevent the movement of the cage support apparatus by theweight of the user thereof, such that the upper support and the basesupport are fixedly connected by the plurality of vertical supports, andparticularly, the lengthened side support is held by the first endsupport, the first corner support and an intermediate vertical support,the rear support is held by the first corner support, the second cornersupport and the intermediate vertical support, and the side support isheld by the second corner support and the second end vertical support,whereby the first end support, the first corner support and anintermediate vertical support are buttressed by the lengthened side basemember, the first corner support, the second corner support and theintermediate vertical support are buttressed by the rear base member,and the second corner support and the second end vertical support arebuttressed by the side base member.
 2. The cage support apparatusprovided for use by people bedridden or with wheel chairs, scooters,power chairs or any similar mobile device as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising a toilet bounded by the upper support and base support. 3.The cage support apparatus provided for use by people bedridden or withwheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device asdefined in claim 1 further comprising a first cross brace securedbetween the vertical supports and parallel to the lengthened sidesupport and the side support.
 4. The cage support apparatus provided foruse by people bedridden or with wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs orany similar mobile device as defined in claim 1 further comprising asecond cross brace secured between the vertical supports and parallel tothe rear support.
 5. The cage support apparatus provided for use bypeople bedridden or with wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or anysimilar mobile device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a baseplate secured to the base support for supporting and stabilizing thewheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobile device.
 6. Adisplaceable cage support apparatus is provided for use by peoplebedridden or with wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similarmobile device comprising: (a) an upper support, the upper supportcomprises: (1) a rear portion, (2) a first and second side portions, (3)a first and second arcuate portions, (4) a first and second verticalreceptor, and (b) at least one vertical support, the vertical supportcomprises: (1) an elongate member, (2) a pivot mechanism, (c) a securingmember, and (d) a base member for engaging the base support and forfixing the relationship of the vertical supports and the upper supportsfor providing a unitary structure that is sufficiently rigid to preventthe movement of the cage support apparatus by the weight of the userthereof, such that the upper support and the vertical support arepivotly connected by engaging the pivot member of the vertical supportwith the with the vertical receptor of the upper support, and the uppersupport is rotatably secured to a wall by the securing member such thatwhen a toilet is bounded by the upper support the displaceable cagesupport apparatus can be lifted to rotate about the securing mechanismto lift out of the way a person to provide complete access to thetoilet, and when the person accesses the toilet, the displaceable cagesupport apparatus can be lowered about the person on the toilet so as tostabilize the person on the toilet and provide support therefore.
 7. Thedisplaceable cage support apparatus provided for use by people bedriddenor with wheel chairs, scooters, power chairs or any similar mobiledevice as defined in claim 1 further comprising a toilet so as to bebounded by the upper support.
 8. The displaceable cage support apparatusprovided for use by people bedridden or with wheel chairs, scooters,power chairs or any similar mobile device as defined in claim 1 furthercomprising a base plate secured beneath the displaceable cage supportapparatus for supporting and stabilizing the wheel chairs, scooters,power chairs or any similar mobile device.
 9. A method of using a cageapparatus with a bed comprising the steps of exiting the bed for a wheelchair, engaging the wheel chair to have an elongated handle of the cagesupport apparatus overlapping an arm of the wheelchair for providingenhanced stability, and rotating from the wheel chair into the cagesupport apparatus with a short support providing for greater entrancespace.